This Diwali, stars ditch the crackers, plan celebrations around social causes

This Diwali, celebrities are planning eco-friendly festivities and saying no to crackers to keep the noise of the surrounding and pollution-free and ensure the safety of stray animals and petsShilpa Shetty Kundra: Instead of crackers, we buy food for the homelessShamita and I stopped buying crackers when we were 12 or 13 years old. Instead, we started buying samosas and batata vadas for homeless people. However, I did buy sparklers for my son when he was 4 and that was it. He didn’t like the noise, so we stopped buying crackers. On Diwali, we decorate the house with lights and lamps. I make rangoli, and laddoos and sweets at home and distribute them to family and friends. Diwali is a festival to usher in new beginnings and positivity. I hope we also encourage family and friends to celebrate this festival by going the eco-friendly way.Adah Sharma: Let’s keep our animal friends safe this DiwaliI don’t burst firecrackers. My idea of Diwali is absolutely eco-friendly. I feel that one can have celebrations without harming other living beings. Crackers pollute the air and scare the animals. Instead, wear new clothes, spread positivity and light up lives. I also believe that instead of creating nuisance for others, we should invest in relationships on Diwali and have fun.Amyra Dastur: Bursting crackers ruin the spirit of the festival Every Diwali, my family and I go to our farmhouse in Khandala and spend time together, catch up and exchange gifts and play cards. I made sure my family stopped bursting crackers about 10 years ago. My mom was against crackers because our dogs would be miserable because of the noise. I think bursting crackers ruin the spirit of the festival. Our planet is facing a crisis and we seem to be ruining it further. Crackers shouldn’t be allowed and we should celebrate Diwali without causing harm to the street animals or the environment. I love picking up unique diyas and lanterns made from recycled material.Daisy Shah: Crackers are toxic and harmfulCrackers are toxic and harmful for the environment. I celebrate this festival of happiness with a small family get-together and enjoy over good food and conversations. Let’s stay away from bursting crackers. I know the kind of trouble the strays go through during this particular time of the year and have also seen a lot of people getting sadistic pleasure by troubling stray animals.Hina Khan: Be mindful of the environmentDiwali is a very special festival for me. Everything around is so colourful and vibrant. The true spirit of the festivities lies in spending time with one’s family and friends. While we are enjoying the festival, let’s be mindful about the environment. And the first step would be to avoid bursting crackers and use earthen diyas instead. Given the current climate change crisis, giving up crackers would be a step in the right direction.Rakul Preet: Refrain from bursting crackers, save the environmentDiwali is all about bringing smiles to people’s faces. We should refrain from bursting crackers, let’s save the environment. Instead of spending money on crackers, one can give food to the underprivileged, that will actually make Diwali happy for them. The real purpose of this festival should be to spread happiness and enjoying with family.Sachet Tandon: Bursting crackers is not fun anymoreWe should have a cracker-free Diwali to make our environment better. I don’t think bursting crackers is fun anymore, it is disastrous. There are so many people and animals suffering just because of this one day. Social media has played an important role in educating people. I believe that this festival needs to be spent with family and loved ones by lighting candles and lights.Sophie Choudry: Let’s not make Delhi’s air worseThe beauty of Diwali is lighting diyas. It’s a festival to celebrate good fortune and happiness with family and friends, so eat well, have fun, play cards, make the house beautiful but let’s not burst crackers and instead be kind to animals. There is already a lot of pollution, especially in Delhi so let’s not make it worse. Let’s work towards creating a better environment and celebrate it in the most traditional way, without fireworks.”